February 7, 2013 - 16:01 AMT
Report offers to include “vote against all candidates” option

Protection of Rights Without Borders NGO has received numerous complaints on electoral bribery, the organization head said.

Siranush Sahakyan presented the NGO’s “Ready for Elections” report on voting violations and criminal cases instigated during the polls.

“Appeals have been rejected due to the absence of the corpus delicti. People reportedly in charge of distributing election bribes were summoned. However, they denied having committed the crime or having somehow affected the voters’ decision-making. The cases were further rejected due to the lack of corpus delicti,” she said.

Ms Sahakyan further dwelt on a case, with a video record proving an authorized person offering a bribe to a voter.

“The case was later dismissed due to the authorized person’s explanation suggesting he sold a badge to another villager.

The report comprised 16 offers and justifications on legislative amendments, with one of the proposals suggesting “vote against all candidates” option be included in the ballot.